CITY VALUATIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 30 October 1914, Page 7

CITY VALUATIONS

A COUNCILLOR'S PROTEST ALLEGED INEXPERIENCE.

I Some severe strictures upon the recent revaluation of the city were parsed at the meeting of the City Council last night. Councillor R. Fletcher, who raised the matter, said a monstrous injustice had taken place in the revaluation of the city of Wellington. Almost every rate* payer in the city was complaining, lii his own case hu was called upon to pay between £5 and £6 more in rates than last ycay. Councillor L. M'Kenzio : You voted for the increase in the rates. Councillor Fletcher said that had no* thing to do with tho matter. He wanted to know how long ago it wag since the municipality gave over its function by allowing tho Government to place young men on to value the city. He under* stood that up till recently the Govern' ment used to employ Mr. Ames, but last year that officer was not engaged, and men who, he asserted, were inexperienced were put on, with the result that ""a monstrous injustice had been perpetrated. Councillor J. Fuller, jun. i It is a case of the* biter bit ; that is all 1 can say. The Mayor (Mr. J. P Luke) said he understood that Mr. Ames was continU' ously employed valuing properties last yeai, but Mr. Ames could not cover the whole city, of course. Councillor Fletcher s He was «n ob> jector in one or two cases. ~ The Mayor said they had no control I over the matter. He was receiving 1 ' I several protests every day. The place to : protest, however, was before the Assessment Court. Councillor Fletcher : It, is absolutely no use going there. I _ Another councillor i There is no justice in that Court, sir. Tho Mayor said he thought the Assessment Court ought to be constituted on [ r different basis, under which > more unifmm justice could be obtained. Ha considered that representations might very well be made to the Government on the matter. Councillor Fletcher: i will take the opportunity of bringing down a notice ot motion at next meeting to make re« presentations. Councillor M. F. Luckie gave notice to move at next meeting that a poll of the ratepayers be taken to decide whether aor not the council shall revert to the principle of rating on annual values in lieu of the present system of , rating on unimproved values.

The death W occurred at tho Masterton Hospital of Mr. William Riddle, of Taueru, at tho ag& of 78 yearn. The deceased, "who was born in Wales, England, arrived m New Zealand in 186§> • and carried on business as a storekeeper and board inghouse-keeper at Taueru during, the pwst thirty yewa i£* leave* a widow, but no children. .